The American Begonia Society will host its southwest regional annual meeting in Shreveport this month, the first time it’s been held in Louisiana.
The three-day event will include garden tours, seminars, and a begonia show and sale, according to event coordinator Freda Holley of Ruston, La.
Holley began growing begonias more than 40 years ago, and now has about 300 of them in her yard. With more than 1,400 species, she says, the semi-tropical begonia is grown worldwide.
“No matter where you live, there are certain begonias that will love to grow in that location. Not every begonia wants to grow everywhere. But, Louisiana locations are really very favorable to a large number of begonias,” Holley said.
More than 50 people have signed up for the conference, according to Holley, who has been involved in the American Begonia Society since the early 1970s.
She served as the editor of its international journal for 12 years.
The annual meeting and show is May 22-24 at the Holiday Inn Airport West in Shreveport. Holley says the sale will feature begonias that can’t be found anywhere else in Louisiana.
